The Portfolio Committee on Police has noted with dismay reports indicating that police crime-scene experts such as those in the police's criminal records centres are refusing to work after 19h00 due to overtime dispute and calls on South African Police Service (SAPS) management to resolve this as a matter of urgency.
“We cannot afford to have officials such as fingerprint, DNA and photographic specialists absent at any given time, especially over a disagreement that can be better managed”, said Ms Annelize van Wyk, Committee Chairperson.
Failure to resolve this dispute, according to the Committee, undermines the fight against crime and will negatively impact gains made.
The Committee also founds it upsetting that SAPS senior management, which spent the whole of last week in Parliament, did not highlight this challenge. Ms Van Wyk said that during the tabling of SAPS annual report last week, SAPS was asked to highlight challenges impeding their work, but failed to bring this to the attention of the Committee.
“We will call SAPS to appear before the Committee and tell us how they intend sorting this problem out as well as how they plan to prevent such from reoccurring”, said Ms Van Wyk.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, Ms Annelize van Wyk, please contact:
Temba Gubula
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 078 735 8809
Tel: 021 403 8307
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
